Arsenal: Super Jack Wilshere absence thoroughly felt

After Arsenal’s incredible 3-1 loss against Swansea city, is it hard to question the dedication of these players? Especially when pitted against Jack Wilshere’s.

Arsenal were lethargic. Lacking energy. Culpable for all three of those goals conceded. These are the moments that pieced together the inevitable fall after the pride that was the 2-1 win against Chelsea.

It’s not like it hasn’t happened before. This is why the Gunners have been regarded not as a top team, but as a club struggling to perform, fielding increasingly stagnant sides. I don’t believe that there was a single player that performed well after that second goal and that is reflected in the scoreline.

This frustrates me more than anything else. The only thing worse then a bad result is players that are not putting a shift in and playing 100% every time they step on the pitch.

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Factors such as tactics, confidence, fitness, personal life and team chemistry and cohesion can affect how a player is feeling and how they perform. However, none of that matters if the players just simply do not know the importance of every game they play for a club.

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What this means is that Arsenal are a team plagued with inconsistency, the likes of which hasn’t been lost to fans. Even after the departure of a runaway Alexis Sanchez, who was thought to be the catalyst of such disorder in the dressing room, there are still problems with results and questionable passion.

In this sport, there are two types of passion – the passion of the fans and the passion of the players and manager. Both want trophies, and both want to win games. The main difference between the two is for one, it is a profession, a job; whereas for the other, it is an obsession.

Jack Wilshere is one player that fully knows what it is to be a part of Arsenal. Sure, most players wouldn’t spend the time Jack has spent with this club, but he has had a roller coaster of a career, coming out of a crucible of injuries, only to emerge a better player. He is a leader in a team where there is none, and he has the skills to back it up. His longevity and loyalty makes him an obsessed fan just like the rest of us.

Next: 5 Things Learned Against Swansea City

Tactics can be fixed, but there is one thing that cannot – an underlying passion to play for the badge.